
An Ancient Turtle Named After Bánh Xèo Can Teach Us a Lot About Whimsy in Science
Nước mắm — that ruby-hued elixir; that salty, fish-flesh-sweet open secret in your favorite recipe; that indispensable icon of Vietnamese culture and, by extension, identity — owes itself to Commerson’s anchovies. That’s right, if your fish sauce comes from the central region, where it was first developed, the fish pressed with salt to produce it are Stolephorus commersonnii, a species named in 1801 after Philibert Commerson, a white Frenchman. Picture all the hardscrabble village homes suffering under the yoke of colonialism, where one of the day’s few pleasures was a humble meal made delicious by a carefully rationed dash of fish sauce and an ingredient whose name pays homage to their colonizers.

Huế's Fantastic Herbs and Where to Find Them, Now in Book Form
Have you ever walked past a plant and wondered "Hey, I wonder what that could do?"

Saigon Commences Metro Line, Major Administrative Hub Project in Thủ Thiêm
Municipal authorities in Hồ Chí Minh City are moving forward with a number of infrastructure projects that will majorly transform the peninsula in the future.

From the Ground up Into the Air: The Evolution of Bitexco in 25 Photos
Between Thủ Thiêm's ambitious new skyscrapers, the planned transformation of Thanh Đa Peninsula and a LEED-standard apart...

The Global Waste Trade Fuels the Rise of Waste Colonialism in Southeast Asia
In August 2025, Malaysian campaigner Wong Pui Yi stood outside the UN headquarters in Geneva and made an appeal to Global North nations: “Stop treating the Global South as the rubbish bin for plastic waste you cannot handle.”

Pedaling for a Purpose: The Coastal Cycling Challenge Bringing Homes to Quảng Ngãi
During February and March, a group of volunteers from Saigon spent five days cycling up the coast, starting in Thảo Điền and ending up in the mountainous district of Trà Bông, nestled deep in Quảng Ngãi Province.

Voọc Cát Bà: The Endangered Primate of Karst Land
Imagine being born one color, and growing up into a very differently hued adult.

Vietnamese Indie Studio Skrollcat Announces 'Hoa 2,' Sequel of 2021 Award-Winning Game
In 2021, the first Hoa title came out just in time to soothe our pandemic anxiety. Five years later, will Hoa 2 be up for the job in this new era of fuel crisis and global instability?

A BIS Student Finds Inspiration at the United Nations
“A lot of people, especially young people, just go on with their daily lives…and they might think that global issues are way too much; that they’re out of their hands. And what I’m trying to do ...

Play, Inquiry and Holistic Education in Saigon
An activity using dry Spaghetti noodles and marshmallows might not immediately seem like a learning opportunity, but a closer look reveals the importance of play in education.

Saigon's Flooding Is Manageable Now, but Will Wreak Havoc in 2050, Study Says
A new study highlights the grave flood threat facing Saigon if strong mitigation efforts aren't taken in the coming decades.

Who Are Vietnam's Most Severe Coronavirus Cases? Where Are They Now?
Vietnam’s total number of COVID-19 infections remains within its healthcare capacity, so critical patients can receive top-level attention from national experts.

As Mice Stay Healthy After Injections, Vietnam Cautiously Hopeful About Vaccine Prospect
Vietnam’s COVID-19 vaccine project is going smoothly, though it will take a number of months before a useable product is actualized.

[Photos] From Boston to Saigon: A Coronavirus Quarantine Diary
On March 20, I arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport from the United States.

Dong Nai Wants to Add More Lanes to HCMC-Long Thanh Expressway
Congestion between Saigon and neighboring provinces has become as clogged as the arteries of the most ardent bột chiên enthusiast.

Gym-Booking Startup WeFit Declares Bankruptcy After 4 Years in Operation
The COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam has claimed another victim: fitness and beauty startup WeWow.

Defining a Successful Student
Accomplishments come in many varieties.

[Photos] Blending in With Nature at Son La's New School for H'Mong Children
Designed by a group of Saigon-based architects, the Bo Mon District public school project unveiled a new structure for children in one of Son La’s most remote areas.

New Job Postings Reignite Rumors of Apple's Vietnam Expansion
Over the past few days, Apple fans in Vietnam have been abuzz with speculation after the tech giant posted numerous new job postings based in the country.

Central Highlands Coffee Farmers on Tenterhooks as Lack of Rainfall Dries Region
While the Mekong Delta struggles through a historic drought, the Central Highlands is dealing with its own lack of rainfall.

Vsmart Climbs to 3rd Spot Among Vietnam's Most Popular Phone Brands
Vsmart, the smartphone company owned by Vingroup, is behind only Samsung and Oppo in terms of market share, according to new data.

Vung Tau Plans New Airport on Go Gang Island to Replace Existing One
Authorities of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province have decided to move forward with a plan to construct a new airport.

Tracing the Reincarnation of Plastic Waste in Saigon's Informal Recycling Workshops
The text message said to be ready at 4:30am at my street corner, where I would be picked up for the drive to the plastics recycling center. I had been wanting to visit the site for this article and th...

66% of Covid-19 Cases in Hanoi Are Asymptomatic, Health Officials Say
Hanoi officials have warned of increased risk of Covid-19 outbreaks, as it was reported that 66.6% of confirmed cases in the capital were found to be asymptomatic.

[Photos] Inside a New School for Lao Cai Children, Built by Hanoi Architects
While some students in Saigon bemoan slow internet that hampers their distance education at home, there are communities in Vietnam’s remote areas whose only school can barely withstand the elements.

After Lockdown, Bach Mai Criticized Over Clip Showing Doctors Gathering Without Masks
Hanoi’s lockdown order on Bach Mai Hospital was lifted over the weekend, but the hospital is now facing censure over a video that surfaced online.

Vingroup, Bkav Pivot to Producing Ventilators to Help Curb Coronavirus
Amid the ongoing coronavrius pandemic, several Vietnamese manufacturing companies have shifted to producing medical equipment.

How 2 Vietnamese Software Engineers Created a Site to Track the Covid-19 Outbreak
What have you accomplished today while practicing social distancing at home? Did you work on the family’s trellises of gourds, attempt to whisk up a frothy glass of dalgona coffee, or learn a new lang...


